tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
led, ridden and carried head high approaching final furlong, joined inside final furlong, headed final stride
tracked leading pair, switched left 2f out, chased leader over 1f out, joined leader inside final furlong, driven and stayed on to lead final stride
Mutajarred is selected in the feature on the card with Drumfire put forward as the forecast material. Willie Haggas' charge has plenty going for him on this occasion and we seek not to oppose. Proven on the ground and in small fields, it will be interesting to see how the bookmakers price up his rivals. Drumfire is the most obvious of those on paper. Highly tried as a juvenile, he took a nasty looking fall in the Totesport Mile at Goodwood last year and was written off for the season. Connections have been patient but there are obvious questions on today's surface. Raptor was unlucky to run up against a modest Irish Group sprinter in Snaefell last time out. The handicapper has made options limited for the Karl Burke runner and he looks to be taking his chance here accordingly. The racecourse executive must be tearing their hair out over this low turnout for a decent prize and we believe that Mutajarred is in the best place to prosper.
Drumfire (IRE) 10-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, ridden well over 2f out, held when clipped heels and fell in race won by Third Set (8-4) at Goodwood 1m hcap (2) gf in Aug, 19 ran.
Mutajarred 7-2 (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed just inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Night Crescendo (8-7) at Ascot 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Oct.
Raptor (GER) 4-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, closed under pressure into 3rd inside final furlong, soon 2nd and challenged, stayed on well, just failed, 2nd of 12, shd behind Snaefell (9-13) at Curragh 6f hcp hvy in Mar.
